THE EMMANUEL MOVEMENT 359 



in the structure of these organs, are often progressive in character, and 

 usually incapable of repair. 



There is, however, a third class of diseases, which medical science 

 has thus far been unable to classify with the infections or the degen- 

 erations; nevertheless, very real and very common, to which it has 

 applied the term functional disorders. These present no demonstrable 

 organic lesion, and very many of them seem to have their origin in 

 psychic rather than in physical causes. 



It is from this latter class that the superstition and quackery of all 

 ages have largely derived their support. To be sure, science is grad- 

 ually invading even this field, and finding a physical basis for condi- 

 tions which it has been hitherto unable to classify. 



It is clear, however, to scientific men that there is a large class for 

 which no physical basis is likely to be found, which will always be the 

 subject of much philosophical speculation and mysticism. Of late, a 

 most interesting attempt has been made to employ science, religion and 

 hypnotic suggestion, under the guise of psychotherapy, in the study and 

 treatment of these cases, and I thought that perhaps it would be inter- 

 esting to look for a few moments at the so-called Emmanuel movement 

 from a medical viewpoint. 



The underlying principle of mind or faith healing is by no means 

 new; it is probably as old as the race. It is the same principle 

 that underlay the sacrificial offering of the ancients, and that underlies 

 the pilgrimages to Lourdes, and the shrine of St. Anne de Beaupre. 

 One of the earliest analogous movements, to that of which we now 

 hear so much, was that of Mesmer in the latter part of the eighteenth 

 century. 



" By the discovery of a universal fluid, in which life originates, and 

 by which it is preserved, and by the power of regulating the operations 

 of this fluid " — he claimed to be able to cure the most intractable dis- 

 eases; and although a scientific commission, including our own Ben- 

 jamin Franklin, was appointed to investigate his claims, and reported 

 that they could find no evidence of any such fluid or special agency 

 emanating from him or his baquet, while, if blindfolded, his patients 

 proved susceptible to its influence only when they believed that they 

 were within its influence, whether they really were or not; still it had 

 for many years an astonishing vogue and following. 



In the hands of his pupils animal magnetism, or mesmerism, as it 

 was called, was found to be capable of producing a state of profound 

 insensibility in some individuals and a state akin to somnambulism in 

 others. The subjects were made to do all sorts of unnatural things, 

 and to endure the severest pain without flinching. A number of surg- 

 ical operations were performed upon patients, who were placed under 

 its influence, and it was the subject of much medical speculation and 

 discussion. 



